FALSANI:
Who's Jesus to you?
(He laughs nervously)
OBAMA:
Right.
Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he's also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith, (Note: he does not say My faith, he just says this is who Jesus is for the Christians) and one that I think is powerful precisely because he serves as that means of us reaching something higher.
And he's also a wonderful teacher. I think it's important for all of us, of whatever faith, to have teachers in the flesh and also teachers in history.
------------------------------------------------------------ He answers the question like he is writing a detached sixth grade essay on who Jesus was. And yet during the campaign, he couldn't say he was a Christian enough times. He is a Christian, according to himself, he just happens to not believe in Jesus.
He never says openly and never even implies that he is a Christian in answer to the question. I'm sure if your Muslim student is asked, he will give a similar answer. Jesus was a historical figure, and a wonderful teacher. That's all.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2578739/posts
I have no doubt this student would have given a similar response, if he had been given the opportunity to do so.
Thank you for posting the complete information. I do remember reading about this previously, I just didn’t remember the exact words used.